Improvement in electrodes for electric gas-lighting burners



w A. T. SMITH Electrodes for Electric Gas-Lighting Burners.

No. 206,272. PatentedJuly 23, 1878.

Fig. 5.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFIGE.

A DO'l illl' T. Qlll'lll, OF XEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO All t;\lL\ M L. llOtlAltT,

' OF SAMETLACE.

IMPROVEMENT lN ELECTRODES FOR ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHTING EURNERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No 206,272, dated July 23, 1878; application filed May 10, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, .ADOLPH T. SMITH, of the city of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented an Improved Illlectrode for'Electric Gas-Lightin g Burners; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawin g, making a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved elaslie or spring-acting electrode, of simple construction, for gas-burners lighted by electricity, for the purpose of producing an electric spark to light the gas by making and breaking contact with a second electrode at a point in, close proximityto the orifice of the burner from which the gas issues; and its object is-to construct the said electrode in such a manner that it will be certain in its action, will make a prolonged and wiping contact, and will not be liable to become inoperative or impaired in its action by the heat of the flame or other causes.

The invention consists, mainly, in the improved construction of and means for operating the elect-rode or contact-point, which consists 'in asmall horizontal metallic bar pivoted upon the end of a vibrating arm, which bar or contact-point, in its normal position, is held by means of a springatright angles to thelinc of motion of the said arm, so that when the said arm is moved forward the bar will come i 11 contact with a second electrode, making and breaking contact therewith in close proximity to the orifice of the burner from which the gas issues, thereby producing a spark and iguitingthe same, and by the action of the Said spring a prolonged or wiping contact is effected and an enlarged spark produced. The said bar or contact-point may be arranged, in relation to the other parts of the burner, either to pass the second electrode or to retreat therefrom after making the wiping contact above mentioned, all of which is hereinafterparticularl y described.

In the accompanying drawing, Figurel represents a front elevation of a gas burner provided with my improvement. Fig. 2 is a top view, and Fig-3a side elevation, of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

A represents an ordinary gas-burner, provided with a burner-tip, B, a pivoted arm, t, for operating either the cock of the burner or the vibrating arm D, or both of them, and an electrode, E, located in close proximity to the orifice from which the gas issues. All of these parts may be of any suitable form and construction, as I do not claim either of them as my invention, and do not confine myself either to the exact construction or the arrangement of the same herein shown.

F represents my improvedelectrode, which consists of a small horizontal metallic bar, on, pivotedat the end of the vibrating arm D, in

such position that when the saidarm D is roa prolonged and wiping contact between thesurfaces of the two electrodes.

The arm D, carrying the electrode F, may be operated by suitable means, so that the electrode F may either be carried past and beyond the electrode E, or so that, having made the wiping or frictional contact therewith, as above mentioned, it will retreat to its former position as may be preferred.

It will be understood that one or the other of the electrodes E F must be insulated from the burner, and in the drawing E is represented as being insulated by means of a lava tip, upon which is secured a ring, a, that carries the'said electrode; but 1 do not confine myself to this exact arrangement; neither do I claim the said ring (1, arranged in that manner, as my inven-' tion.

One advantage, among others, secured by my invention is, that my improved contactpoint, especially if made of platinum or similar metal, will not be injured if accidentally left in the flame, which sometimes occurs in the case of the spring-wire contact-point heretofore used, by reason of the temper being taken out of the wire by the heat. of the flame; and the spring 11 is so remote from the'flame that it is not injurionsly att'ected thereby,

hat I claim as my invention is 1. The electrode F, consisting of the bar 122, pivoted on the upper end of the vibrating arm 1), andope rated, substantially as described, by means of a straight spring, II, the upper end of which is attached to the heel of the said bar m, and its lower end to the arm 1), asand for the purpose set forth.

2. The metallic bar m, pivoted on the upper fice of the bnrnentip as and for the purpose set forth.

ADOLPH T. S ITH.

Witnesses:

E. E. BOGART, A. L. Doe/ un. 

